Sounds like Microsoft won't be evoking any fond memory of blue screens of death

News continues to trickle out about the upcoming version of Microsoft Corp.'s (MSFT) Windows operating system. Set to land later this year, builds of the new OS, code-named "Blue" have trickled out to select partners -- which in turn has led to leaks.

The latest news to emerge comes courtesy of Roman L. (handle:AngleWZR), a developer who has been analyzing the leaked builds. He notes on his Twitter that the latest leaked build -- build 9375 -- has a text string in the lower right-hand corner labeling it "Windows 8.1".

One other minor piece of Windows 8.1/Blue related news courtesy of Mr. Thurrott's WinSuperSite : apparently Microsoft has tweaked the Search Charm in its latest builds. Where Windows 8 made you pick between "Apps, Settings, or Files" , the new search does away with that, allowing you to start typing immediately. Instead of pre-selecting the category, it simply clumps the results by category.

[Image Source: WinSuperSite]

ZDNet Windows blogger Mary Jo Foley says that Windows 8.1 should hit RTM in August. A beta is rumored to be slotted for Microsoft's June BUILD conference.

Well to play devils advocate Microsoft is often criticized for not innovating. Windows 8's UI could be considered innovation just in a very obtuse and stupid way. I know that a lot of people (including myself) didn't at first like the newer start menu XP presented but they had the option of using the legacy start menu. If the metro UI is better then people would have naturally gravitated to it. My guess is that Microsoft went so far down the path with metro then realized that is was total crap and decided to force it on everyone rather than provide people a way out with the traditional UI.

Because, you know, everybody is *so* over the whole round-wheel thing.

Wheels are round because that's the optimal form.

The Metrosexual UI is a square wheel. Did someone "innovate" that? Sure...if you want to be ridiculous in the application of that word.

It's different. It's new. But neither of those things in any way guarantee that it's better than what came before. That's the problem with the children who think the Metrosexual UI is "good." All they can see is that it's new - and their peabrains automatically make the jump from "new" to "good" because they're not actually capable of their own critical thought processes.